THE HOT STORY

Safety concerns over staff shortages at India aviation regulator

An Indian parliamentary committee has highlighted critical staffing shortages at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and air traffic control, warning that these deficiencies pose a significant risk to aviation safety in the country. The committee's report noted that nearly half of the DGCA's positions remain unfilled, attributing the issue to an outdated recruitment model that hampers the hiring of skilled personnel. Lawmakers have called for urgent reforms, including a focused recruitment campaign and the potential establishment of a new regulatory authority to enhance safety standards.

Reuters

WORKPLACE

Korea's shipbuilding industry faces safety crisis

Korea's shipbuilding and steelmaking industries are vital to its economy but face alarming safety issues. In recent months, several subcontracted workers have died in accidents, highlighting the dangers of these industries' many high-risk jobs. The Ministry of Employment and Labor reported 187 manufacturing worker deaths last year, with shipbuilding's accident rate at 2.63%, significantly higher than the manufacturing average of 0.8%. Experts attribute the issue to cost-cutting and tight deadlines, and are urging companies to invest in safety. Kim Tae-gu, a professor of occupational health and safety engineering at Inje University, said policymakers should create incentives. “The more companies invest in safety, the better they can perform. That needs to be recognized and supported,” Kim said.

Korea Joongang Daily

HIRING

Meta freezes AI hiring

Meta Platforms has frozen hiring in its artificial intelligence (AI) division to coincide with a broader restructuring of the group, which also prohibits current employees from moving across teams inside the division. Any exceptions to the ban on external hires would require permission from Meta’s chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, according to sources. A Meta spokesperson said the freeze was “basic organizational planning: creating a solid structure for our new superintelligence efforts after bringing people on board and undertaking yearly budgeting and planning exercises.” The Wall Street Journal notes that Meta has this year often pushed the pace of an already-aggressive talent war.

Wall Street Journal

Foxconn boosts pay to attract workers ahead of iPhone 17 launch

Apple's main contract manufacturer, Foxconn Technology Group, has increased recruitment efforts at its Chinese factories ahead of the iPhone 17 launch, offering higher wages and bonuses for assembly line workers. New recruits who remain for three months can earn a bonus of up to 8,000 yuan (US$1,113), a rise from 4,500 yuan earlier in July. Hourly wages have also increased, now reaching 28 yuan, up from 23.5 yuan. In Shenzhen, contract workers earn 26 yuan per hour until November 30.

South China Morning Post

WORKFORCE

Human Resource Tamil Conference 2025

The Human Resource Tamil Conference (HRTC) 2025 took place earlier this week in Denkanikottai, Krishnagiri, attracting over 400 HR professionals from Tamil Nadu and three other countries. Inaugurated by Hosur MLA Y Prakash, the event featured discussions on HR roles and industrialisation's impact on quality of life. Notable awards included the “Trailblazing Tamil HR Leaders Award” for Dr Krish Shankar and Dr M H Raja. An interactive programme, “HR Parliament,” led to 180 recommendations for the HR community.

The Times of India

STRATEGY

CSL cuts workforce by 15% in restructure

Australian multinational specialty biotechnology company CSL is laying off up to 15% of its workforce as part of a significant restructuring aimed at reducing R&D costs. The Melbourne-based company plans to streamline its operations and enhance pipeline productivity. CSL will demerge its vaccine subsidiary, CSL Seqirus, to operate independently on the Australian Stock Exchange by June 30, 2026. Chief executive Paul McKenzie said that these changes focus on "pipeline, productivity and people." The restructuring is expected to save the company A$500m-A$550m annually over three years, despite a 14% increase in underlying profits.

Fierce Biotech

ECONOMY

China urged to overhaul its tax system to boost consumption

China's value-added tax (VAT) system is hindering the shift towards a consumption-driven economy, according to economists, who argue that the current allocation of tax revenue, based on production rather than consumption, discourages local officials from promoting consumer markets. Sheng Songcheng, a former head of statistics at China's central bank, co-authored a paper highlighting these issues. The new VAT law, set to take effect next year, introduces technical changes but is said to lack the bold reforms needed to redirect tax revenue to consumption areas. The economists advocate for a revamp to support economic transformation.

South China Morning Post

TECHNOLOGY

Australian lawyer faces backlash over AI blunders

A lawyer in Western Australia has been referred to the Legal Practice Board after submitting court documents with AI-generated citations for non-existent cases. The incident is part of a concerning trend, with over 20 similar cases having being reported in Australia. Justice Arran Gerrard said the case "demonstrates the inherent dangers associated with practitioners solely relying on the use of artificial intelligence." The lawyer admitted to overconfidence in AI tools and failed to verify the results.

Daily Mail

The Guardian

CORPORATE

JD.com buys HK grocer Kai Bo

JD.com has acquired Kai Bo Food Supermarket, a Hong Kong chain with over 90 stores, to boost its presence in the Greater Bay Area. Kai Bo’s founder, Lam Hiu-ngai, will continue to lead the business under JD.com’s Innovative Retail group. Kai Bo, founded in 1991, employs over 1,000 staff and offers fresh produce, meats, and staples. The move follows JD.com’s 2024 push into Hong Kong, which included launching a price match guarantee and establishing a logistics hub to enhance regional service.

Tech In Asia

INTERNATIONAL

Americans fear AI permanently displacing workers

According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll, many Americans fear that artificial intelligence could lead to permanent job losses. The poll showed that 71% of respondents said they were concerned that AI will be "putting too many people out of work permanently." Additionally, 77% worry that AI might incite political chaos, particularly amid the rise of realistic deepfake technology. Concerns extend to military applications, with 48% opposing AI in military targeting. The poll also revealed that 61% of respondents are apprehensive about the energy consumption of AI technologies.

Reuters

Fat jabs could help cut sick days in UK

Research suggests that weight-loss jabs offered on the UK's National Health Service (NHS) could significantly cut the number of sick days taken by workers. A study of 421 patients found sick leave dropped by a third within three months of treatment, while the proportion of patients taking no sick leave at all rose from 63% to 77% after six months. The data comes from Oviva, the largest provider of weight-loss support for NHS patients on the injections. With obesity linked to millions of lost workdays annually, the government believes wider access to weight-loss drugs could save taxpayers up to £5bn a year by boosting productivity.

The Daily Telegraph

NS and unions strike deal on wages

NS, the principal passenger railway operator in the Netherlands, and the trade unions representing its have reached a new collective bargaining agreement, granting workers a 4% wage increase retroactive to March 1, 2023, and a further 3.5% hike next March. Higher-level positions will see a 3% increase. Henri Janssen of the FNV Spoor union said: "We fought hard, and yesterday morning I still thought we wouldn't reach an agreement." The agreement also allows employees to opt out of night shifts from age 63, lowering to 61 by 2029, and offers early retirement for those with 30 years of physically taxing work.

NL Times

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